Good Company

I feel like the nook might become a photo-booth for the great friends who are taking time to stop by to check on me.  It's been nice to just surrender to my pajamas, drink tea, and spend time with these various beautiful people who come bearing gifts of soup and love.  Today brought visits from Jenna, Sarafina, and Lee.  (I think BadBoy has charmed each of them into believing that he is her boyfriend.)

For the Soul

Meg's homemade chicken soup makes recuperation feel like a special holiday.

Purrfect

There's nothing like having your mom take care of you when you're recuperating. 
Two out of two cats agree. 

Healing

I'm here with my healing dream team, listening to Snatam Kaur, feeling incredibly peaceful, relaxed, and surrounded by love. I'd say it's a nice going-away party for my fallopian tube.

Pre-Surgery Sunshine

This was a nourishing day for the soul, and I wish it could be made into an actual prescription for people who are preparing for surgery.  The essential ingredients were:
1 Energy work with a beautiful healer and friend
2 Lunch and huge hugs from my sweetie
3 Lots of texts, calls, and emails of love and support
4 A walk in the sunshine surrounded by happy dogs
5 A good cry
6 A healthy, celebratory dinner with amazing friends
7 Framed original artwork by 3.5 yr old Olivia
8 Feelings of peace and trust in my body

Visit

I had a few moments between appointments to stop and sit with the Charles River this morning.  It was so quiet and still.  I was wondering if the trees felt lonely in the winter without their usual schedule of visitors.

Celebrate

The annual BodyWise Holiday Party is always a favorite event - margaritas, guacamole, and quality time with my favorite Capricorn.  An amazing healer, soul-sister, art-maker, and joy-bringer, this woman is the reason why the BodyWise sign keeps waving. (Literally. And figuratively.)

Head Butts

I was sort of having a "I'm too busy to be grateful" kind of a day and didn't take my camera out at all.  Just when I started feeling all grumbly and worried about being ungrateful and photo-less, Ringo snapped me out of it with some nuzzly head butts.  Of course, he was probably way more interested in getting a bite of my dinner than making the blog; nevertheless, he saved the day. 

Family

It was my birthday grand finale; I think my heart might just burst from loving these people so much. 

Sofra

I was swept away by the many excellent things about my trip to Sofra today, I almost forgot to take photos! Most noteworthy are: some fabulous catch-up with a dear friend, divine middle eastern food, and the snazzy handwritten menu signs (swoon!).

Snow Day

Just when the worry about another day of snow and canceled clients began to arise, the sky gave me this reminder that brighter days will be here soon. For now, it's back to snuggling and some cocoa for me!

Fresh Air

The girls and I celebrated the return of the sun with a trip to the dog park to stomp the trails. We were all happy to finally get out of the house and breathe some fresh air. I am grateful to have snapped a few photos with my phone, just before my computer decided to stop working. While it spends the week with the Apple doctors, I am determined to stay committed to this daily practice that I love.

Lovingkindness

I give thanks for 35 years of living, loving, healing, laughing, growing, dancing, hugging and receiving. 

May you be happy and joyous

May you be safe and protected from harm

May you be healthy and strong

May you be peaceful and serene with what is

May you have ease of heart and mind

May you be free from suffering and delusion

Birthday Love Bites

Ten years ago today, the eve of my birthday, is when I first met my Meg.  At least, that is how our memories have come together to tell the story.  From that first night of her "Happy Birthday" serenade, I knew I had found someone who was holding a (pretty gigantic) piece of my heart and life would never be the same. 
Ten years later, I came home tonight to a house filled with music, delicious smells, and this swoon-a-licious woman bustling about our kitchen, preparing a beautiful birthday feast (yes, complete with wine, and flowers, and a homemade gluten-free cake).  On this once again eve of a new year, I am feeling so very lucky to be loved by this amazing person, and grateful for the journey that brought us back to each other. 

Lunch Break

It is such a luxury to live close enough to my office that I am able to go home and have lunch with my family some days.  On this particularly long day, I was grateful for a sweet midday break with some relaxing tea and a playful Fergie. 

Space Clearing

It was an afternoon of unpacking lingering boxes, rediscovering favorite books and photos, making space, moving energy, and lightening the load of "stuff" that was ready to move on.  Joyously, my little corner room rewarded me with her warm, sunlit windows. (I think she was just showing off...)

Special Delivery

I came home today to a package in the mail from my beloved friend, Erika!  Just seeing her handwriting on the box made my heart leap with joy, and the fabulous gift inside made me do a happy dance around my home.  Sewn with love and unique detail, Era made for me this awesome one-of-a-kind shoulder bag! I am so in love with the special fabrics, texture, shape, feel, pockets, zipper, clasps, and personalized "ERA" tag.  I, of course, had to fill up my new favorite bag and try out all of its fabulous features before I could settle down with my camera to express my deep appreciation and love.  I am so grateful for this beautiful friend, and her generous, thoughtful soul.

Devotion

My Luna, with her soft people eyes, is a soul soother.  When I am feeling sick, she nuzzles in that much closer, so I will stay in bed and rest.  When I am full of worry, her deep sighs remind me to breathe.  While I am working on getting my energy back, she is teaching me patience and forgiveness for all the things I "should be" doing. (Such as long hikes or visits to the dog park...) 
I am so grateful for this sweet faithful girl.

Morning After

This was the scene of my first step outside this morning.  So spectacular to be greeted by this winter wonderland, complete with an enchanted golden road.

Brand New

I have the most amazing job.  Truly, nothing keeps me deeply grounded in the moment the way birth does. Every breath, every movement, every moment is dedicated to the awe of a mother birthing her baby. While most of the city slept and braced itself for a snowstorm, I had the honor of witnessing this gorgeous baby girl being born; just as the first snowflakes began to fall.  As you can see, she didn't mind leaving her momma for a moment while her Daddy put on her first diaper. (During which, my camera and I spent time falling in love with her cheeks.)

Reflect

Undecorating for the holidays always makes me a little sad.  Taking ornaments off of the tree had me in a nostalgic mood,  as each little glass ball and sparkly star made me think of a person or time from which they were from.  I feel honored to be the keeper of these particular ornaments, as they used to decorate my great-grandmother's Christmas tree.

Crème Brûlée

Ending my day with a full happy belly after a fabulous dinner hosted by my sister and brother-in-law.  Jenna's stupendous grand finale was a work of art, accompanied by her festive red place settings. 

Sister Day

I am grateful to my parents for many many things; most importantly, for giving me my two best friends.  
The love is just too big for words, and the laughter is too much for my camera's shutter speed. 

Calm

I love the way my massage space feels on Saturdays.  The energy feels extra deep and calm and cozy.  The snow today brought such a soft, gentle light into the windows of my treatment room. It felt almost like the whole building was taking deeper breaths.

The Nook

I've been thinking lately that this might be my most favorite spot in the house. 
It's most certainly Bad Boy's favorite. 

Tiny Feet

I was thrilled to finally find time to finish editing photos of one of my newest doula babies.
Welcome, Baby Gray!

Professional Snuggler

This may be the only reason I survived the stomach bug.

Love Soup

Few things make me happier than a spontaneous lunch date with my sweetie.

Cyclamen

I was so grateful to this little plant for greeting me with her bloom when I returned to work today. She was a sweet reminder that some things still grow despite the dark and cold. (And this photo, taken with my little Canon powershot, was good practice for letting go of perfectionism...)

Still

Today was a day of memories - a spontaneous sleep-over with our NY friends, a hike with the pups at the foggy reservoir, the balmy winter air, lots of laughter, and many photos. It was hard to choose just one.

Clean

Lavender dish soap. Squeaky clean dishes. The winter light at midday. These are a few of my favorite things